Being an informal non-governmental campaign launched after the fraudulent presidential elections in Azerbaijan in 2003, the Democratic Azerbaijan Initiative aims at supporting the process of democratization and defends human rights in Azerbaijan. The activists of Democratic Azerbaijan Initiative commemorate the second anniversary of Elmar Huseynov’s murder by a picket in front of Azerbaijani Embassy in Poland and the statement, addressed to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland Ms. Anna Fotyga’s prior to her visit to the Republic of Azerbaijan. (02-MAR-07)

Placed on the website by Shahla Ismailova/HRH Baku on the basis of information received from the Democratic Azerbaijan Initiative.

Statement
In connection to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland Ms. Anna Fotyga’s visit to Azerbaijan, we are hereby asking for information to be publicly presented as to in what manner the issues of the respect for human rights in Azerbaijan have been considered in Ms. Minister’s talks to President Ilham Aliyev. We are also expressing our concern that the publicly announced agenda of the visit did not include a meeting with representatives of the democratic opposition nor human rights defenders. We urge the government of the Republic of Poland to raise the issues of the respect for human rights and democratic standards persistently in its cooperation with Azerbaijani partners.

We wish to stress that „support for institutions of civil society” is among the priorities of the Polish development aid program for South Caucasus. Therefore we feel particularly obliged to recall the international community’s concerns for the respect of the norms of democracy and human rights in Azerbaijan.

According to international organizations monitoring the respect for human rights across the World, such as Freedom House and the OSCE, it has not been possible to describe any elections held in Azerbaijan since 1993 as free and fair. In its annual Freedom in the World report, Freedom House has classified Azerbaijan into one category with states such as Belarus and Iran.

Background information
In 2003 the Azerbaijani authorities decided to use force against protesters who where calling for democratization and expressing their opposition to the violations of democratic procedures that had taken place during the presidential elections. As a result of the excessively violent police action, at least one person was killed and hundreds were injured. In the subsequent government crackdown on opposition activists at least 600 people, including the leaders of opposition parties, were arrested for political reasons.

Particular concern is raised by restrictions on the freedom of expression and by the persecution of journalists who criticize the authorities. In March 2005 the opposition newspaper Monitor’s journalist Elmar Huseinov was shot dead in the staircase of the Baku apartment bloc he lived in. Many other journalist have been detained or persecuted by the security forces. Amnesty International’s January 2007 report on Azerbaijan (AI Index: EUR 55/004/2007) provides a detailed analysis of the “contracting space for freedom of expression” in that country in recent months and years. The report describes the harassment of representatives of the independent media, cases of arbitrary arrest and ill-treatment of journalists, assaults on journalists by “unknown actors” and the abuse of criminal defamation charges to restrict the freedom of expression. Serious concern has been raised again in recent weeks by a series of arrests of journalists representing a broad spectrum of opposition groups.

Active role for Poland to play
We believe that Poland, due to its unique experience of peaceful transformation towards democracy, should play an active role in the promotion of democracy and human rights, especially in the area of the former Soviet Union. We also believe that such policy can be expected especially of a government that declares its dedication to the ideals of resistance to authoritarian regime and stresses its connection to the tradition of the Solidarity movement. Hundreds of Azerbaijani non-governmental activists, self-government representatives and politicians have visited Poland under international internship programs. With hope and trust they look at Poland as an active force on the international arena. We wish for Poland not to fall short of their expectations.
For more information contact Mateusz Laszczkowski, tel. +48 503 152 061 demo.azer@onet.eu